By Sudarshan Varadhan
CHENNAI (Reuters) – The United States said it is willing to collaborate with India to help realise its ambitious green energy target and exceed its commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement, the Indian government said on Monday.
John Kerry, the U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, also told Indian Power Minister R.K. Singh the two countries could take the lead in global energy transition, and set an example by achieving ambitious renewable energy targets, India said in a statement.
Kerry proposed that “USA is willing to enter into a genuine collaboration with India to enable us realise the ambitious target of reaching 450 GW Renewable Energy by 2030 which would pave the way to India achieving sub 2°C level,” India said in the statement.
Singh urged the United States to join the International Solar Alliance, and both countries agreed to work together to reduce costs of energy transition and make it economically viable.
India’s power minister also invited U.S. companies to participate in bids to manufacture green hydrogen in India.
India plans to provide federal financial support for setting up electrolysers as it wants to make the use of green hydrogen mandatory for refineries and fertiliser plants, Singh said last week.
India, the world’s third biggest greenhouse gas emitter, wants to generate 40% of its electricity through renewables by 2030 as it seeks to cut carbon emissions.
An electrolyser splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrical energy. For green hydrogen, renewable energy is used for electrolysis.
(Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan in Chennai; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
